National Police arrested two Alicante residents, aged 22 and 25, who stand accused of extorting money from the mother of a young man wrongly accused of stealing a mobile phone. The suspects, described by authorities as a very dangerous pair, threatened to kill and harm the victim if the demanded payments were not made. The family began making payments to avoid further retaliation until the young man surrendered. A total of 7,000 euros had been paid before authorities intervened.
Organized Crime Group I, affiliated with the Alicante Provincial Judicial Police Brigade, opened an inquiry after the mother reported receiving death threats unless a specific sum was paid on behalf of a man she had known for nearly two months. The investigation centered on a scheme where the extortionists contacted the victim by phone and claimed that her 20-year-old son had reportedly stolen a mobile phone from within a residence belonging to a dangerous individual, offering to act as intermediaries for the requested money. The phone threats included assurances that failure to comply would result in physical harm, including killing and dismemberment, to be placed in plastic bags, according to a police statement.
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The mother spoke with her son, who initially denied involvement but later admitted that the extortionists had contacted him and alleged that he was responsible for the alleged theft. The fear of retaliation led the young man to confess, though he had no involvement in the crime itself. The situation escalated as the family sought to avert danger for the son and themselves.
Out of concern for possible reprisal, the mother made an initial payment of 500 euros to the extortionists. She believed this would stop the pressure, but the demands continued, with the culprits instructing her to send funds through Bizum, a popular mobile payment service. The sequence of coercive calls and payments continued despite the mother’s attempts to disengage from the scheme.
The victim reported the situation to the Police after turning over 7,000 euros in total. Investigators were able to identify the suspects and secure their arrest, along with a collaborator. Both detainees were Spanish nationals, aged 22 and 25, and were questioned at police stations. One of them remained in custody as authorities prepared to present the case before the Alicante court on duty. The investigation highlighted a coordinated effort to pressure the mother into paying to resolve a non-existent wrongdoing, using fear as a primary instrument of coercion and attempting to exploit a family’s concern for a child.
Officials emphasized that extortion cases like this involve convicted patterns of manipulation, where perpetrators exploit relationships and social networks to instill fear. The case also serves as a reminder of the importance of reporting suspected coercion and seeking protection through authorized channels. The police collaboration between the Organized Crime Group I and the Alicante Judicial Police continues to monitor similar threats and to safeguard residents from aggressive criminal activity. Authorities noted that the legal process would determine responsibility and appropriate penalties for both the primary extortionists and their accomplice, ensuring accountability under the law. At present, the case remains a focal point in local efforts to combat criminal intimidation and to reassure the community that authorities will respond decisively to those who prey on fear and family safety.